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H. G. WOOD. TIME STAMP FOR LBTTERBOXES.

No. 535,522. Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

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TIME-STAMP FOR LETTER-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,522, dated March 12, 1895.

Application filed September 21, 1894- Serial No. 523,691. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORATIO GATES WOOD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newport, county of Newport, and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Qtamps for Let ter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to timestamps for letter boxes, and has for its object to provide a device which may be attached to a street, office, or house letter box, and be caused to stamp upon any letter before its deposit in said box the time and place of deposit; a further object of the invention being to provide means whereby the stamp may be set at a .certain hour and locked to prevent tampering therewith, whereby the said stamp is caused to stamp a predetermined time upon all letters submitted to it until the same is reset.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a time stamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same taken upon the line a:0c, Fig. 1, and showing a portion of the wall of a letter box to which it is attached. Fig. 3 is a section taken upon the line y-y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken upon the line z-z, Fig. 2. In the practice of my invention, I construct a plate of metal A having the flange A projecting forwardly at right angles therefrom at the top. This plate is secured to the wall B of the letter box by means of the bolt a or is provided with other means of fastening.

From the under side of the flange A is suspended, by means of the hinge b, a circular box or casing 0, having journaled eccentrically within the same a tubular shaft or hub D, upon the outer end of which is a dial E, and having upon the inner end thereof a disk F. At the center of the box 0 is a vertical partition 0 cut out immediately in front of the disk F, which said disk is provided with an annular flange c surrounding a flange or rim 01 upon the edge of the opening in the partition 0, which said flange d serves as a guide, on which the disk F works, and pre* vents too free motion thereof.

Extending through the tubular hub Dand beyond the same at either side, is a shaft D, the projecting portions of which are decreased in diameter to receive thereon at the front a dial G, of lesser diameter than the dial E, the opposite end of the shaft having secured thereon a disk H, of appreciably lesser diameter than the disk F, Within which it fits.

The dials E and G are preferably formed with peripheral flanges E and G in order that they may be grasped and independently rotated. Upon the outer dial E are ,marked numerals which indicate the hour of the day, one half of its surface having marked thereon the Arabic characters 1 to 12, and the remaining surface being marked with the Roman characters I to XII in sequence following, the first indicating the hours from one to twelve in the forenoon and the latter those in the afternoon, and for further distinction I darken or otherwise color one half of the disk as shown in Fig. 1.

Upon the outer edge of the inner dial G are marked twelve characters in a progression of five from O to 55, which said characters designate the time of deposit with respect to minutes. The disks F and H, which comprise the type dials, have mounted thereon preferably rubber type 6, corresponding to the characters upon the respective dials with which they work in unison, the said type c being arranged in circular rotation in exact accordance with the characters upon the dials as shown in Fig. 4; and upon the disk H within the outer series of type a are aligning type e, representing the letter A, or any similar character to designate the station or place of deposit. I

In the inner side of the box 0, which is open throughout, is placed a cover or lid I, having an annular rim f which fits tightly within the edge of the box 0. The face of this cover is wholly closed except for a slot g extending from about the center thereof vertically downward. Within the rim f is a metallic ring h having secured over the whole of its face immediately rearward of the type dials an inking ribbon or cloth or any similar material I,

and surrounding the disk F is aband of rubber or other frictional substance t', which engages with the ring h at a segment of its circumference.

Upon the plate A to which the box 0 is secured, and by which it is attached to the letter box, is mounted, directly opposite the slot g in the lid or cover I, a block J, of either metal or wood, of just sufficient size to enter the said slot and engage the type c.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The dials E and G are set to the time of deposit, which is effected by turning the said dial until the characters at the lowest point thereof indicate the correct hour and fraction of the hour within five minutes, which thus brings the corresponding type 6 and also one of the type 6', directly opposite the slot g in the cover I, and the block J upon the plate A. The box is then drawn outwardly from its pivotal point at the joint of the hinge b, and the letter which it is desired to stamp is placed against the block J, and the stamp dropped to strike the said block, or pressed against the same, thus causing the said letterto be brought into contact with the type opposite the slot g, which through the ribbon I, impress themselves upon the letter, the stamp being then again lifted and the letter withdrawn and deposited in the letter box. At the same time, the disk F being, in common with the other dials, eccentrically mounted with reference to the box 0, the rubber band t' thereon will engage the ring has the disk is rotated, and the ribbon I being secured upon the said ring is carried therewith, and thus a different portion of the said ribbon is presented to the slot 9 at each operation of the stamp.

The device as thus described would in practice be set at the exact time of deposit by each depositor, but in order that the stamp may, where desired, be beyond the control of the persons depositing the letters, particularly when used for public mail boxes, I provide a locking attachment which consists of a bar K, within the box 0, immediately rearward of the outer face thereof, which said bar has upon the top thereof a hookj which engages with lugs j upon the box, being held in contact therewith by means of the curved plate spring L, which is secured to the box and rests upon the upper end of the bar K. Upon the lower end of the said bar, which projects below the box 0, is an extension K, having arms is and 7s, beveled at their ends to engage with notches l and l formed in the flanges E and G of the dials opposite each of the characters thereon. Immediately be low the level of the lugsj', I form in the side of the box 0 a key-hole m, through which is inserted a key M, which when turned engages with the bar K which is rearwardly curved or bent at j where the key engages therewith, and raises or lowers the same, as the case may be.

When the carrier collects the mail from the box, he'adjusts the dials E and G to indicate the time of the next collection, and then inserts the key M in the key-hole m, and turns the same to raise the bar K to engage with the top lugj; and the said bar carrying the extension K therewith, the arms It and Z0 engage in the notches Z Z, whereupon the dials are locked and may not be manipulated, the depositor in such case merely stamping the letter and depositing in the box. By this arrangement of locking mechanism, the dials may be either locked or left unlocked, as desired.

The advantages resultant from the use of my invention will be manifest to all who are conversant with the general class of devices to which the same appertains. I do not confine myself to the exact formation of parts and details of construction herein set forth and illustrated.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A time stamp for letter boxes, comprising an angular plate, a circular box hinged thereto, a dial mounted upon the face of said box, havingcharacters marked thereon, type dials at the rear of the box normally bearing against the plate working in unison with the face dials, and carrying corresponding characters, and inking material extending across the whole of the device immediately behind the type dials, substantially as shown and described.

2. A time stamp for letter boxes comprising a box or casing adapted to be pivotally secured to the letter box, dials mounted upon the face of the box, working independently, type dials corresponding to the face dials and working in unison therewith, inking material extending across the rear of the box immediately behind the type dials, a lid covering the said material, slotted at the point of engagement of the dials with the letter, the face dials having characters marked thereon designating hours and minutes respectively, and the type dials having type characters thereon corresponding to those upon the dial, and also having type thereon indicating the place of deposit, substantially as shown and described.

3. A time stamp for letter boxes comprising a circular box or casing adapted to be pivotally secured to the letter box, a tubular hub extending therethrongh-and journaled eccentri-cally therein, carrying a face dial upon the outer end thereof, and a type dial upon the opposite end, a shaft extending through the hub having a face dial upon the outer end thereof, and a type dial upon the inner end fitting within the first, a cover upon the inner side of the box, slotted at the point of contact with the letter, a ring within the said ICC cover having inking material stretched across the same, and a band upon the outer type dial engaging with the said ring, whereby the same rotates with the dial, substantially as shown and described.

4. A time stamp for letter boxes comprising an angular plate, a circular box hinged thereto, a dial mounted upon the face thereof having characters marked thereon representing hours and minutes respectively, type dials at the rear of the box working in unison with the face dials and carrying corresponding characters, a lid or cover at the rear of the box, slotted at the point of contact with the letter, and inking material secured within the cover, substantially as shown and described.

5. A time stamp for letter boxes comprising an angular plate having a block thereon, a circular box hinged to the top of the said plate, a hub journaled eccentrically therein having an upraised dial thereon, provided with character marks representing hours, a disk upon the opposite end of the hub having type thereon corresponding to the characters upon the dial, a shaft within the hub having an upraised dial thereon marked with characters representing minutes, and a disk upon the inner end of the said shaft fitting within the first, having type thereon corresponding to those of the characters of the dials, and also type designating the place of deposit, a cover upon the inner side of the box slotted at the point of contact with the block upon the plate, a ring within the said cover having inking material secured across the face thereof, and a band of frictional material surrounding the outer type disk, whereby the rotation thereof turns the ring, substantially as shown and described.

a 6. In a time stamp, the combination with a plurality of rotating dials, of a locking attachment adapted to engage said dials and prevent rotation thereof, and adapted to be disengaged from said dials by a removable key, the said time stamp being provided with a key-hole for the entrance of said key, substantially as shown and described.

7. A time stamp for letter boxes comprising an angular plate, having means thereon for securing the same to aletter box, and a block upon the face thereof, a circular box hinged to the top of the said plate to swing outwardly therefrom, a hub journaled eccentrically in the said box, a dial upon the outer end thereof, provided with a peripheral flange having notches therein at intervals, the said dial being marked with characters representing hours, a disk upon the inner end of the hub having type thereon corresponding to the characters on the dial and flanged peripherally, a partition behind the said disk having a flange or guide thereon with which the flange of the disk engages, a shaft extending through the said hub having a dial upon the outer end thereof marked with characters representing minutes and also provided with a peripheral flange having notches therein, a disk upon the inner end of the shaft fitting within the first, having type thereon correspondingto the characters on the dial, and also type thereon designating the place of deposit, a cover in the inner side of the box having a vertical slot aligning with the block upon the plate, a ring within the said cover, inking cloth stretched across the face of the said ring, a band of rubber surrounding the outer type disk and engaging with the ring, whereby the same is turned as the disk rotates, lugs upon the box, a bar within the said box having a hook thereon engaging with the said lugs, a spring bearing upon the said bar, an extension upon the lower end of the bar having arms thereon adapted to enter the notches in the face dials, and a key adapted when turned to raise or lower the bar, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of September, 1894.

HORATIO GATES WOOD. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN MARSH, 2d, A. F. HARRIS. 

